Towards sarcosine determination in urine for prostatic carcinoma detection

Abstract Sarcosine, a potential biomarker for prostate cancer, can be detected in a solid state enzyme based biosensor using sarcosine oxidase, with particle immobilised reagents. A novel fusion protein of the fluorescent protein, mCherry, sarcosine oxidase (SOx), and the polypeptide R5 (R52-mCherry-SOx-R5-6 H), was explored, which allowed self-immobilization on silica microparticles and long-term (90 days +) retention of activity, even at room temperature. In contrast, commercial wildtype SOx lost activity in a few days. A silica-R52-mCherry-SOx-R5-6H microparticle sensor for determination of sarcosine in urine, linked the SOx coproduct, H2O2, to a measurement catalysed by horseradish pero…